Government leadership – the governance structure and the process for approving grants will be led by the GoH;

Consistency with Aid Effectiveness Agenda of national ownership and alignment with the GoH Recovery Plan;

Increased coordination and harmonization and focus on results;

Speed and flexibility in delivering results;

Transparency and accountability in the utilization of the HRF’s resources;

Focus on building the capacities of GoH and other national institutions aimed at developing sustainable local capacities for the long term.

Priority projects and programmes of the UNDG HRF will be implemented by UN Organizations, in collaboration with government entities, international and national Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), in accordance with the applicable implementation arrangement of the UN Organizations.

Assistance Strategy

Following the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010, the Government of Haiti (GoH) prepared an Action Plan for National Recovery and Development (“Recovery Plan”) dated March 2010, which articulates the vision of the GoH and its priorities for recovery, reconstruction and development based on the GoH led Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The PDNA was carried out with support from the European Commission (EC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the United Nations (UN), and the World Bank (WB).

As a component of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF), the United Nations Development Group Haiti Reconstruction Fund (UNDG HRF) will allow the UN system to provide a coordinated and coherent support to the GoH in the implementation of its Recovery Plan. The funded programs will complement other recovery, reconstruction and development activities supported by the development partners of the GoH.

Governance

Under the chairmanship of the Government of Haiti (GoH), the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) Steering Committee is responsible for the overall management of the HRF. It comprises GoH representatives, key donor partners making the minimum contribution to the HRF of USD 30 million, representatives of the HRF Partner Entities - the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the United Nations, and the International Development Association – and a representative of the Trustee as an ex-officio member. Other observing participants would include International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) representatives, the private sector, local governments and other development partners as agreed by the Steering Committee. The UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident Coordinator (DSRSG/RC) will represent the UNDG Organizations in the HRF Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is responsible for:

Providing oversight and serving as the final point of accountability for the use of HRF resources;

Approving or endorsing specific HRF programmes or projects and funding allocations proposed by the HRF Partner Entities or designating the HRF Partner Entities that will be responsible for administering specific HRF activities;

Deciding to withhold disbursements in the Transfer Agreements due to (a) a substantial deviation from approved work plans and budgets; (b) failure of the Partner Entity to provide reports on time; or (c) evidence of financial mismanagement in Projects;

Ensuring coherence and synergy between the activities of the HRF Partner Entities.

HRF Secretariat

The HRF Secretariat, based in Port-au-Prince, will support the HRF Steering Committee in the daily operations of the HRF. The functions of the Secretariat will include receiving proposals for review by the HRF Steering Committee, organizing meetings, drafting and minutes, providing public information, and offering guidance to partner agencies on the processes and requirements as laid out by the HRF Steering Committee.

HRF Trustee/ Fiscal Agent

IDA will serve as the Fiscal Agent for the HRF and is responsible for:

Establish the Fund to receive contributions from HRF donors;

Administer the funds, assets and receipts that constitute the HRF;

Make transfers to the HRF Partner Entities, in accordance with the decisions of the HRF Steering Committee;

Provide regular reports to the HRF Steering Committee on the financial status of the Fund.

HRF Partner Entities

The HRF Partner Entities consists of IADB, UNDP and IDA, and any other multilateral development bank as agreed by the HRF Steering Committee. Each HRF Partner Entity is responsible for the use of funds transferred by the HRF Fiscal Agent and activities carried out with the financing in accordance with (a) its own financial regulations, rules, policies, guidelines, and procedures, and (b) the applicable decisions of the HRF Steering Committee, including the purpose for which the allocations of the funds have been approved.

UNDG HRF Management CommitteeThe UNDG HRF Management Committee which will be chaired by the DSRSG/RC and comprises of heads of UNDG HRF Participating UN Organizations, will be responsible for:

Reviewing and endorsing programme proposals and funding requests submitted by Participating UN Organizations that have been vetted by Programme Groups;

Ensuring conformity of UN operations with GoH’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti (“Recovery Plan”) and priorities set by the HRF Steering Committee;

Confirming UN proposals have been requested by the relevant GoH counterpart Ministries or institutions;

Reviewing funding requirements of UN programmes and submitting to the HRF Steering Committee fund allocation requests of the UNDG HRF;

Ensuring UN wide consistency and quality control of programmes submitted for funding to the HRF Steering Committee;

Ensuring coordination and avoiding overlap of UNDG HRF activities with programmes of the HRF Partner Entities and other HRF stakeholders;

Reviewing and approving the UNDG HRF consolidated annual and other progress reports submitted by the Administrative Agent (AA).

Programme Groups

The Programme Groups are responsible for reviewing the respective UN programme proposals prior to their submission to the UNDG HRF Management Committee for endorsement and onward submission to the HRF Steering Committee. The Programme Groups ensure programmes’ alignment with the GoH Recovery Plan and the reconstruction priorities identified by the HRF Steering Committee. They vet the technical quality of the proposals and review compliance with established criteria.

Administrative Agent

The UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) serves as the AA for the UNDG HRF and is responsible for concluding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Participating UN Organizations and receiving, through the HRF Fiscal Agent, allocations from the HRF to the UNDG HRF for utilization by the UNDG HRF Participating Organizations. The AA also prepares and submits consolidated progress reports on the UNDG HRF.

In accordance with guidelines and procedures issued by the UNDG HRF Management Committe, Participating UN Organizations will work together in Programme Groups to develop and submit programme proposals/concept notes through the UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident Coordinator (DSRSG/RC) for UNDG HRF Management Committee endorsement. Such programme proposals/concept notes should be based on a requests from Government counterpart Ministries or institutions, for Participating UN Organizations to develop concrete programmes to meet specific needs. Following the UNDG HRF Management Committee review and endorsement, the DSRSG/RC will submit the programme proposals/concept notes, through the HRF Secretariat, to the HRF Steering Committee for approval.

Proposal Review & Approval Process

The HRF Secretariat will first ensure that the programme proposals/concept notes meet the criteria established by the HRF Steering Committee for receipt of funding from the HRF. The programme proposals/concept notes are then submitted to the HRF Steering Committee for approval. Upon approval, the latter will allocate resources to UNDG HRF, through the HRF Fiscal Agent. Subsequently, the UNDG HRF Management Committee will ensure that project/programme documents, with budgets, are fully developed. After ensuring the project /programme document meets the approval conditions of the HRF Steering Committee, the DSRSG/RC will request the AA to transfer the approved funds to the Participating UN Organizations in line with the HRF Steering Committee's funding instructions. The AA will make disbursements within three (3) to five (5) business days after receipt of the instruction along with the required documentation.

Participating Organizations are required to submit final year-end expenditures by April 30 in the following year;
Interim expenditure figures are submitted on a voluntary basis and therefore current year figures are not final until the year-end expenditures have been submitted.